Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Archbishop Aram Ateshyan Told About Concealed Armenians In Turkey

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Archbishop Aram Ateshyan Told About Concealed Armenians In Turkey

    ARCHBISHOP ARAM ATESHYAN TOLD ABOUT CONCEALED ARMENIANS IN TURKEY

    11:07, 30 April, 2013

    YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: The General Vicar of the Armenian
    Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan gave an
    interview to the Turkish Bugun TV channel, where he told about the
    concealed Armenians living in Turkey, the number of which makes about
    a million. As reported by Armenpress, the Archbishop Aram Ateshyan
    stated that those people were made to conceal their nation and become
    Muslims during the World War I, because of the well-known events,
    occurred to Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey.

    "There are about a hundred thousand people in the present generation
    in Turkey, whose parents are Armenians and they are Muslims. They talk
    Armenian and wear a cross secretly. I cleared it out due to my
    personal contacts. They do not want to attend church, as it will
    reveal their identity. The liturgy held in the Saint Kirakos Church in
    Diyarbakir was attended by more than 400 people, half of which having
    Armenian roots. My family as well lives in Diyarbakir as Muslims. The
    sons of my elder sister also live in Diyarbakir. They accepted Islam
    under pressure in 1950.

    My son-in-law was told if he does not accept Islam, he will be killed.

    I was born in 1954. When I was 4-5, my sister became a Muslim. Their
    children became Muslims as well. My sister wore her cross secretly and
    spoke Armenian. I lost them, as they did not attend our church and I
    could not christen them. Many of the concealed Armenians told about
    their being Armenians only before the death.

    A 30-year-old man came to me and asked to christen him. I told him to
    prove his being Armenian and he could not. Then his father called me
    and asked to accept his son. He said that he worked in the
    municipality and when he retires, he will return to his roots.

    According to his son, 90% of the population of Tunceli are Armenians
    and now he is a member of our church", - told the General Vicar of the
    Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan.

Working...
X